Supply Chain Now
Supply Chain Now
Recent Episodes
Tariffs, trade uncertainty, and shifting energy demands are colliding with rapid advances in AI, medtech, and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, companies are racing to fill hundreds of thousands of open roles, rethink how they attract talent, and modernize permitting and policy frameworks that haven’t kept pace with innovation. The result is a U.S. manufacturing sector on the verge of a new chapter, but only if leaders can unlock the right mix of policy, people, and technology.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and Kathy Wengel, Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Operations and Risk Officer at Johnson & Johnson, live from the Innovation Summit North America 2025, powered by Schneider Electric. Together, they unpack NAM’s comprehensive manufacturing strategy and the conditions needed for American industry to thrive.
Scott, Jay, and Kathy explore how permitting reform, energy leadership (including nuclear), and trade certainty impact investment decisions on the factory floor, from small manufacturers to multinational enterprises. They discuss the urgent need to expand the workforce pipeline, especially for veterans and non-traditional talent, and why modern manufacturing careers offer both purpose and prosperity. The conversation also highlights breakthrough innovations in healthcare, sensors, and AI, and connects them back to the policy environment that either accelerates or slows progress for manufacturers everywhere.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(00:47) Introducing Jay Timmons and Kathy Wengel
(01:25) NAM and Johnson & Johnson at a glance
(03:47) Why manufacturing needs a new strategy
(07:30) Permitting reform, energy, and nuclear
(10:53) Workforce pathways and veterans in manufacturing
(15:56) Tariffs, trade policy, and certainty
(19:13) AI, medtech, and next-gen manufacturing
(25:23) Policy, innovation, and what’s ahead
Additional Links & Resources:
- Connect with Jay Timmons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaytimmons/
- Connect with Kathy Wengel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-wengel/
- Learn more about the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): https://nam.org/
- Learn more about Johnson & Johnson: https://www.jnj.com
- Learn more about Schneider Electric: https://www.se.com/ww/en/
- Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
- Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
- Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
- WEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTH
- WEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hg
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/building-bold-new-roadmap-forward-us-manufacturing-industry-1517
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton sits down with Todd Heimes, Vice President of Amazon Business, live from Amazon Reshape 2025 in Seattle. Todd—an Amazon veteran of 26 years and a Seattle resident for over 30 years—shares rare, behind-the-scenes insights on scaling Amazon Business across Europe, Japan, and India, and leading multiple global teams including small business, global marketing, Business Prime, and international expansion.
Todd explains how AI and innovation are reshaping procurement, with Amazon working to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce manual drudgery, and empower organizations to make smarter, faster purchasing decisions. He underscores the enduring influence of Jeff Bezos’ principle: start with the customer and work backwards.
Todd shares a fascinating look at how Amazon Business streamlines procurement for large-scale, high-stakes operations, and also breaks down Amazon’s newest AI-driven capabilities—like the Amazon Business Assistant and Spend Anomaly detection—designed to elevate customer experience and bring intelligence to purchasing workflows.
Todd closes with advice for today’s supply chain leaders: master your data to navigate uncertainty and drive smarter decisions. Tune into this episode to hear how Amazon Business is using AI, innovation, and customer-obsessed strategies to transform procurement and empower organizations to work smarter and faster.
Additional Links & Resources:
- Connect with Todd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-heimes-854666/
- Learn more about Amazon Business: https://business.amazon.com/
- See more interviews from Amazon Business Reshape 2025: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlLoUG3n7TmW4c7RknasnchSaxRDauGyy
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
- Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
- Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
- WEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1z
- WEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTH
- WEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hg
This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/how-ai-innovation-reshaping-procurement-amazon-business-1516
The future of energy is changing fast — and Schneider Electric is leading the way.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton reflects on the recent Schneider Electric Innovation Summit North America 2025 in Las Vegas, where 2,500+ leaders gathered to tackle skyrocketing energy demand, AI-driven power consumption, and the urgent need to modernize our grid.
Listen in as Scott shares his top takeaways — the why, the what, and the so what — including:
- How AI is driving massive new energy needs
- Schneider Electric’s breakthroughs in electrification, automation & digital intelligence
- Why energy efficiency is quickly becoming much more than a competitive advantage
Discover why Schneider Electric is the trusted energy technology partner shaping the future.
Additional Links & Resources:
- Leran more about Schneider Electric: https://www.se.com/us/en/
- Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
- Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
- Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
- WEBINAR- Inside the Cargo Theft Surge: Insights & Predictions for 2026: https://bit.ly/4oVAsms
- WEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1z
- WEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTH
- WEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hg
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/unlocking-future-energy-technology-schneider-electric-1515
Supply chain planning is undergoing a profound shift in a landscape shaped by rising geopolitical pressure, accelerating disruption cycles, and unprecedented investment in AI. Organizations are being pushed to deliver growth while navigating higher volatility, tighter margins, and increased expectations for speed and adaptability.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by special guest host Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, and Noha Samara, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain at Gartner. Noha draws on her cross-industry experience from manufacturing and consumer goods to high tech to explore how planners can better connect strategy, ecosystems, and technology to meet the demands of 2025 and beyond.
Scott, Mike, and Noha unpack the four essentials for elevating planning performance: aligning planning strategy with business priorities, collaborating across extended supply networks, defining a precise and targeted role for AI, and equipping people with the skills and confidence to lead through change. They also spotlight insights from the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit, including the skills planners need, the expanding relevance of CPFR, and why the future of planning depends as much on talent and culture as it does on data and technology.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(02:43) Guest introduction: Noha Samara
(04:20) Celebrating teachers and their impact
(08:45) Noha's professional journey
(13:23) Challenges and trends in supply chain planning
(18:03) Best practices for 2026 supply chain planning
(26:55) The evolution of CPFR and ecosystem collaboration
(27:43) The impact of COVID-19 on supply chain visibility
(30:39) Defining a deliberate role for AI in supply chain
(37:17) The importance of people in supply chain transformation
(43:08) Insights from the Supply Chain Planning Summit
(48:37) Final thoughts and takeaways
Resources:
- Connect with Noha Samara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noha-samara-4864863/
- Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/
- Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/en
- Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
- Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
- Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
- WEBINAR- Inside the Cargo Theft Surge: Insights & Predictions for 2026: https://bit.ly/4oVAsms
- WEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1z
- WEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTH
- WEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hg
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/4-ways-optimize-supply-chain-planning-2026-1514
As modern supply chains grow more complex, shippers are under increasing pressure to move beyond spreadsheets, emails, and manual decision-making. For Trove Brands, rapid expansion across multiple product lines created new challenges in parcel, LTL, truckload, and international shipping. Keeping up with customer expectations and rising order volumes required better automation, cleaner data, and greater visibility across every mode.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton speaks with Tanner Dastrup, Director of Logistics at Trove Brands, and Shannon Vaillancourt, CEO of RateLinx. They break down how Trove replaced outdated workflows with automated rate shopping, digital truckload auctions, integrated freight audit tools, and real-time container tracking. By connecting these capabilities directly to their ERP systems, Trove reduced manual work, improved accuracy, and provided teams and customers with more reliable information.
Together, Scott, Tanner, and Shannon explore the broader shifts shaping transportation today, from the value of unified data to the cost of inconsistent carrier selection and manual settlement. Their discussion shows how flexible technology can streamline warehouse and 3PL workflows, strengthen customer experience, and help growing shippers scale with confidence.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Meet the panel
(02:34) Trove Brands overview
(06:29) Shipping operations and challenges
(12:17) Automation and integration
(17:48) Data and integration hurdles
(25:30) Streamlining sales with real-time quotes
(26:47) Challenges in B2B LTL shipments
(29:21) Operational inefficiencies in warehouse and 3PL workflows
(34:22) Improving international shipping visibility
(42:20) Choosing the right TMS solution
Additional Links & Resources:
- Learn more about RateLinx: https://www.ratelinx.com/
- Connect with Shannon Vaillancourt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-vaillancourt/
- Learn more about Trove Brands: https://trovebrands.com
- Connect with Tanner Dastrup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-dastrup-1a4677165/
- Read why ShipLinx TMS was the best fit for A&A Global: https://www.ratelinx.com/use-cases/integrated-automated-in-control-shiplinx-tms-freight-audit-transforms-aa-global-shipping-operations/
- Check out our previous episode with RateLinx and A&A Global: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4d7dhNr8tQ
- Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
- Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
- Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
- WEBINAR- Inside the Cargo Theft Surge: Insights & Predictions for 2026: https://bit.ly/4oVAsms
- WEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1z
- WEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTH
- WEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hg
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/logistics-challenges-time-block-tackle-win-1513